In Ukraine, a registry of priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) who support ties with Russia has been created.
The registry, developed by OSINT investigators from the Molfar team, includes information about the real estate and Russian passports of high-ranking members of the UOC-MP. This was reported by Antikor.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has historically had close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), as mentioned in the report.
Despite some priests of the UOC-MP declaring their "independence" from Moscow after the full-scale invasion of Russian forces in 2022, the registry reveals that some of them not only continue to support Russian claims but also hold Russian passports. Additionally, many members of the UOC-MP own property in Russia. In total, the Molfar team added 67 individuals to the registry.
They include the following high-ranking church figures:
Orest Berezovsky (Metropolitan Onufriy)
In August 2022, he received Russian prisoners in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Onufriy conducted a joint prayer and sang 'Many Years,' wishing the captives health and all the best. Regarding the ongoing war with Russia, Onufriy spoke ambiguously and emphasized that stopping the hostilities can only be achieved through the 'word of love.' He also reiterated the ideology of the 'Russian world,' stating that Ukrainians and Russians are brotherly nations who emerged from the same baptismal font," as mentioned in the report.
Orest Berezovsky
Valentin Yegorenko (Archbishop Panteleimon):
In 2022, he was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship. Currently, he is under sanctions from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) due to his support for the actions and policies of the Russian Federation.
Mykola Petrovtsiy (Metropolitan Mark):
In 2022, he was denied permission for immigration to Ukraine, and in 2023, he was stripped of Ukrainian citizenship.
Volodymyr Udovenko (Metropolitan Platon):
He is under sanctions from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) due to his support for the actions of the Russian Federation. In 2023, the migration service prohibited the entry of the metropolitan into Ukraine.
Ivan Seredniy (Metropolitan Irynei):
In 2023, he was stripped of Ukrainian citizenship. Additionally, in 2009, he received the "Order of Friendship" from the then-President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev.
A complete list of high-ranking members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate who have ties to Russia can be viewed here.